Recorder



R v CORDE Jun M. ALDEN RECORDER Oct. 13, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1950 Fav [Mani/QW y@ MM MM Y @i Patented Oct. 13, 1953 UNITED STATES-PATENT OFFICE RECORDER H l Milton Alden, Wellesley, Mass. Application June 16, 1950, Serial No. 168,540

partment which is substantially sealed from atl mosphere, the paper `being brought out as required through a tortuous path or labyrinth. in recorders having a slow rate of paper feed and in those recorders which are used intermittent, the recording elements may alsobe enclosed in the magazine compartment to prevent dehydrating of the paper as it travels from the exit the compartment to the recording elements as is described in my copending application Serial No. 577,754, filed February 14, 1945, now Patent No. 2,540,081, February 6, 1951. This latter arrangen ment, while satisfactory for many applications, has the inherent disadvantage of making it is possible to view the record until after it has passed through the labyrinth, which in very slow recorders may be a matter of hours.

Accordingly objects of this invention are to provide recording apparatus for electrosensitive paper which maintains the paper with the proper degree of moisture content, which permits viewing of the record immediately after recording, which reduces the number of sealing elements to a minimum, which is arranged so that the paper supply can be readily replenished, which allows the paper to be easily and readily threaded between the recording elements, and which advances the art generally.

In a broad aspect the invention contemplates apparatus for making a record upon electrosensitive paper which apparatus comprises a casing having a magazine compartment for holding a supply of the paper. The compartment is closed except for a slit out through which the paper is fed. One side of the slit is formed by a portion of a recording element or electrode, which portion is preferably but not necessarily the eifective recording portion so that the paper and electrode constitute a seal for the magazine compartment.

In another aspect the recording elements are respectively a blade having an effective portion in contact with one side of the paper and a drum having helically disposed about its periphery a conducting strip which contacts the opposite side f the paper. The drum and blade form the re- 2 r spective sides of the slit in the magazine compartment thereby constituting a seal for the compartment. In a preferred, although not a required arrangement, the blade is supported from the cover of the casing and positioned by stop means on the housing which completes the casing. The drum is journaled in the housing whereby the web of paper is readily threaded therebetween when the cover is opened. Upon v* closing of the cover, the drum and blade form l and which forms one side of the slit.

in another specific aspect one of the electrodes comprises an assembly including a strip or tape oi` electrically conducting material positioned about two pulleys spaced at the opposite ends of a frame so that the tape forms a loop which is moved by driving means associated with one of the pulleys. The frame is hung from the cover by means of a resilient supporting panel so that the edge of one side of the loop is positioned transversely of the paper web with one of its edges in contact with the surface of the paper as the eective recording portion, the panel also forming one of the walls of the magazine compartment. A sealing piece or block is interposed between the cover and each of the respective pulleys so that the conducting tape comes in contact therewith as it passes about the pulleys. The panel and the sealing pieces close the comn partment except for a slit for the paper, one side of which slit is formed by the .tape edge, the other side being formed by the drum.

Further objects relate to various features of construction and will be apparent from a consideration of the following description and accompanying drawings wherein Fig. l is a side elevation view in partial section of one embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional View on line 2-2 0i `Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view on line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of the driving pulley;

Fig. 5 is an isometric view of one of the sealing pieces;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation view in partial section of a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. '7 is a partial sectional view on line l-- of Fig. and

Fig. 8 is a partial sectional view on line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Referring particularly to Fig. l wherein is illustrated a recorder comprising a casing consisting of a housing IQ having a cover Il which housing is divided by means of a wall or. barrier l2 into a drum compartment I4 anda magazine compartment I6 wherein is journaled a spool I8 carrying a supply of electrosensitive recording' paper R. The top of the drum compartment Ul is closed by a platen of insulating material. J ournaled within the drum compartmentis' one of the recording elements or electrodesv which electrode comprises a drum or cylinder 22 of insulating material upon whose outer surface is secured a conductor 2li arranged as a single turn of a helix. A slotted aperture is provided in the platen 25 so that the periphery of the cylinder 22 can be located substantially tangent to the plane of the upper surface of the platen.

The cylinder 22 is rotated by means of a motor Md which also drives a paperfeed roll 28 by means of a speed reduction unit consisting of a shaft 26 journaled in bosses 25 extending inwardly from the side wall of the housing it. The lower end'of the shaft 26 carries a gear 2l which engages a worm 29 von the shaft of the motor Md.A The upper end of the shaft 26 carries a worm 3l which mates with a gear (not shown) on the shaft of .the feed roll 23.

vCooperating with the paper feed roll 23 are two idler rolls each of which is journaled at the end of a respective arm 32. The arms 32V extend from the opposite sides of the cover I! so that the idler rolls engage the two ends respectively of the feed rcll'when the cover is in the closed position shown in Fig. 1. Upon rotation of the feed roll 28 `by means of-the abovedescribed speed reduction unit, the web of paper R is unrolled from the spool I8` over an idler roll` 34 whose ends'are journaled 'in bosses extending upwardly from the housing lil, thence under two idler'rolls 35 and 38 which are journaled in the cover Il so 'that'the' web is held against the top surface of the platen 25, and'thence between the idler rolls 3G and4 thefeed'roll 28.

As is best shown in Fig. 2, the second electrode comprises a ta'pe'd of Aan electrically conducting material, such as stainless'st'eel, which is similar to the strip describedr in detail` in my` copending application Serial No. 149,182, filed March 11, 1950. The tape 4E! isv positioned, about two spaced pulleys 42 and 44 so that, the tape, forms an elongated. loop. whose ends are butt welded or otherwise. The pulleys 42 and @dare journaled at the respective ends of a frame comprising ther platef'di having Va flange piece 48 (Fig. 1) vextendingnormally 'from von'eofY the sides thereof.' The' lower "portion'ofj the' flange piece isis recessed to receive a strip 50 which' sitely disposed right angle bends so that the extended end thereof lies against the top of the plate 4B and the inner surface of the upper por-Y tion of the flange 48. The portion of the plate 5'2 adjacent the flange 48 is attached thereto by means of rivets or spot welds (not shown).

The tape e!! is moved about the pulleys d2 and 44 by means of a very slow speed electrical motor Mt which is mounted upon the top of. the cover Il., the motor Mt being(` mechanically coupled to the pulley 42 as is shown' 'in'Fige "The pulley 0,2` is attached to the small threaded end of a 'sl'aft 55 by means of a washer and nut 58, relashown); The larger end of the shaft 56 is provided with a transverse axial slot or groove which engages a corresponding tongue upon the lower end of the shaft 5S of the motor Mt. The shafts 55 and 58 are maintained in axial alignment by means of a stationary surrounding sleeve 5B whose upper end. is pressed in an aperture in the cover H as is shown in Fig. 2. rIhe above described tongue and groove permit axial movement between the shafts 55 and 58 so that the electrode4 assembly is free to move thereby compensating for irregularities or eocentricity in the drum 22.

When the cover ll is closed, the crevice between the cover li and the flange of the casing l5 is sealed by means of. a gasket strip S2 (Fig. 1) carried in a groove in the flange. Similar gasket strips 53 (Fig. 2) carried in grooves in the sides of the cover l i complete a seal. between the cover and the platen 25. block 513 such as is lshown in Fig. 5 is interposed betweenl each of the respective pulleys 42 and iii and the sides of the cover il. The sealing of the movable electrode assembly is completed by means of an L-shaped strip 55 of resilient material which is interposed between the inner surface of the coverA Il. and the plate 52. As best shown in Fig. 1, the strip 55 is formed to the contour of the supporting panel 52 about the rst right angle bend,Y one leg thereof being of. sufficient length to come in contact with the portion of the panel 52h which is against the plate 45. The other leg of the strip 65 has sufficient thickness so that itis compressed. between theY inner surface of the vcover Il 'andA the top surfacev of the panel 52.

From the above it will be apparent that the magazine compartment Vis substantially sealed from the outside atmosphere except for the slit between the effective edge of the tape eiland the periphery of 'thedrurn 22'. This slit is closed. by the web of paper R as it 'is fed through the recorder so that the leakage "ofi: air into and out of the magazine compartment isminimized, the compartinentracting as 'a humidor wherein'the paper supply is maintained'with the proper moisture content up tol andi including the point at which recording takes place. It will be noted. in this connection that immediately after.: re.-

cording, the web of paper emergesv from the.,

moist magazine compartment so thatit begins to. dry and is immediately visible, permitting reading of the record. substantially as. soon as it. emerges from between the. recording electrodes.

The above described invention is not. limited. in. use to recorders having a moving blade or tape electrode, but 'as shown in Fig. 6, the. principle. involved is equally applicable to, a recorderhav.- ing a fixed blade electrode. IIhe recorder shown in Fig. 6 comprises a casing including a housing. '10. which is divided by. means of a partition 1.1.

A sealing pieceY or into a recording drum v.compartment 'I2 Yanda magazine compartment'ld. .The recording drum compartment l2 vis closed by a platen ,'16 of. an insulatingmaterial .such as a suitable plastic. The magazine compartment is closed by a cover 'I8 hinged to the side of thehousing as at 83, the crevices between the housing and the cover being sealed by means of the gasket strips 82 and 84 (Fig. 7). The vcover-,lt is restrained in its closed position by means of ay latch member 19 (Fig. l) which is pivotally secured to the housing 7i! so that it is held in engagement by means of a spring 83 with a pin 8| extending from the side Wall of the cover 1t. The latch member '153 is released by manually depressing a spring loaded plunger 85 which bears against the declivious upper end ofthe member.

An insulated drum or cylinder 85 carrying a helically disposed conductor k8&3 upon its Vouter' surface is journaled in the compartment i2 so that it projects into a slot in the platen 'I5 with its periphery substantially tangent to the upper surface of the platen. The motor and drive for the cylinder and a feed roll 90 are not shown but are similar to the motor Md and the speed reduction unit which were described in detail heretofore with reference to the first embodiment showny in Fig. l.

The paper supply R is carried upon a bobbin or spool S2 which is journaled in the magazine compartment i4; As the recorder operates, the web of paper is unwound from the spool 92 and passes over an idler roll 5d whose ends are journaledv upon opposed walls of the magazine compartment, thence over the top surface of the platen l so that it passes between the cylinder S6 and a blade electrode depending from the cover II which is described in detail, below, and thence between the driven feed roll 9G and two cooperating idler rolls '98 which are journaled upon ref spective arms S9 extending from opposite sides of the cover 78. As is best shown in Fig. 6, the blade electrode has a cross section in the form of a channel, the shorter flange It() of which rests in two stops such as the V-notched blocks IEE when the cover 'i8 is closed. One of the blocks |02 is secured to either side of the platen 'I6 adjacent the respective side walls of the housing 'IS as is shown in Fig. 8 so that the notches engage the opposite ends of the iiange it. A pin |94 is slidably arranged in an aperture in a boss |06 in the cover 'I8 so that the lower end thereof contacts the medial portion of the web |68 of the blade electrode. The opposite end of the pin lod is provided with a head which is in contact with the lower end of a biasing spring I I0 thereby to exert a force upon the blade electrode so that the blade pivots in the blocks Iil2 to bring the edge of its longer flange I I2 into contact with the conductor 88 upon the outer surface of the cylinder 86. Adjustment of the spring I Iii is provided by a threaded plug I I I which restrains the upper end of the spring.

Further pivotal force is supplied by a strip I I4 of resilient material which is carried in a transverse groove in the underside of the cover 78 so that the bottom of the strip is in contact with the forward edge of the web. This strip H4 also acts as a seal, the ends thereof being brought down along the respective ends of the blade ange I I2 so that the forward surface of each strip end comes in contact with a respective appendage H6, which appendages extend downwardly from either side of the cover as is shown in Fig. 7.

When the cover I8 is lifted, the blade electrode is raised by means of two hangers or fingers H8 and |26 which engage the under surface of the blade web. The hanger I I8 is rigidly fastened to the cover I8 by means of screw I22 and a spacer 12d. The hanger I2@ is pivotally connected to the cover 'I8 being maintained in the position shown in Fig. 8 by means of a spring IZS, the hanger being manually rotated downwardly against the force of the spring to remove the blade electrodo.

From the above description it will be apparent that with the cover 'i3 closed the magazine compartment 'M is substantially sealed from atmosphere except for the slit between the recording blade flange IIE the cylinder 3% which slit is substantially blocked by the web of paper when the recorder is loaded so that the compartment acts as a hLLnidor which retains the paper with the proper degree of moisture content until Aafter it has reached the recording electrodes; at the same time permitting visual inspection of the record immediately after it has been made.

It should be understood that the present closure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

l I claim:

1. Apparatus for making a record upon a web of electroserrsitive, paper comprising a casing having a magazine compartment for holding a supply of paper, said compartment being closed except for a slit through which the paper is fed, and a reeordingkelement having a portion in contact with the paper which portion forms one side of said slit. so that the paper completes a seal for saidl magazine compartment.

2. Apparatus for making a record upon a web of eleotrosensitive paper comprising a casing having a magazine compartment for holding a supply of the paper, said compartment being closed except fora slit through which the paper is fed. and a recording element having an effective pontion in Contact with the paper which portion forms one side of said slit so that the paper completes a seal for said magazine compartment.

3. Apparatus for making a record upon a web of electrosensitive paper comprising a casing having a magazine compartment for holding a supply of the paper, said compartment being closed except for a slit through which the paper is fed, and recording means including a blade having an effective portion in contact with one side of the paper and a drum having helically disposed about its periphery a conducting strip contacting the opposite side of the paper, said drum and said blade forming the respective sides of said slit so that the paper completes a seal for said magazine compartment.

4. Apparatus for making a record upon a web of electrosensitive paper comprising a casing including a housing having a magazine compartment for holding a supply of paper and a cover for said housing which closes said compartment except for a slit through which the paper is fed, and recording means including a blade mounted in said cover so that the effective portion thereof is in contact with one side of the paper and a drum journaled in said housing and having a conducting strip helically arranged upon its periphery to contact the opposite side of the paper, said drum and blade forming the respective sides of said slit so that the paper completes a seal for said magazine compartment.

5. Apparatus for making a record upon a web of electrosensitive papercomprisingv a. casinginclud.- ing a housing having. a' magazine compartment iorhclding a supply of paperanda cover for said housing which closes said compartment Vexcept for. a slit through which the paper is fed, and recording means including. a blade resiliently. sup.- ported by said cover, stopmeans on. said housing for positioning. the bladewhen the cover is closed sothat the effective portion thereof is in contact with one side of the paper, and a drum journaled in said; housing and having a. conducting strip helically arranged. upon its periphery to contact the opposite side of the paper,` said drum and blade. forming the respective. sides of said slit'so that the paper completes a seal for said magazine compartment.

6; Apparatus for making. a record upon-a web ofelectrosensitive paper comprising a-casing including a housing having a magazine compartment for holding a supply of paper. and a cover for said housing which closes said/compartment except for a slit through which the. paper is-fed, and recording means includingv a channel-shaped blade resiliently supported by said` cover, a sealing gasket of yieldable material interposed. between the blade and the'cover, two stoppieces having V-notches therein secured to the housing so that the notches receive one flangev of the blade when the cover is closed whereby the other. flange is positioned asV the. effective` re.-

cording portion in. contact withv one side offthe paper, and. a drum journaledv in. saidy housing and. having a. conducting. strip. helically arranged upon itsV periphery to ycontact the` opposite side of the. paper, said drum and blade forming the respective sidesl of said slit so that the paper completes a seal for said magazine compartment.

7*. Apparatus for making a record upon a web of electrosensitive paper comprising. a casing in.- cluding a housing having a magazine/compartment for holding a supply of paperv andl a cover for said housing which closes said compartment except for a slit through which theY paper. is fed, andY recording means including a drum journaled in said housing and having a conducting strip helically arranged upon itsperiphery to contact one side. of the. paper, and-a moving -electrode assembly resilientlv` supported by. said cover.. said. assembly including a tape ofV electrically conducting material, means for movi-ng the tape transversely of.v the. paper web in. contact with the. opposite side thereof so. that the edge thereor acts as the. effective recording portion, said drum and tape4 edge formingA the respective'sid-es of said.. slit so. thatthe papercompletes al seal for said magazine compartment.

8. Apparatus for making a record. upon. a web of electrosensitive paper. comprising a casing including. a housing having a magazine. compartment for holding a supply of paper, a coverffor said housing which closes said compartmentex-f cept-forr a slit through whichthe paper is fed, and recordingmeans includingl a drum jcurf nalled in said housing. and having aconducting strip helically `arranged. `upon. its periphery; to contact-one sidev ofV the paper, and a moving 'electrode assembly includingA a. frame having a pulley 'journaled at each. of the respective ends thereof, a tape of: electrically conducting. material positioned. about said` pulleys in the form of a loop, means for driving one of saidfpulleys to move the tape, 'a resilient supporting panel for' suspending the. frame from said; cover to position the edge of. one side. of;v theloop trans.- versely of the web and in contact with. theop-Y positeside of. the paper so that the. edge acts as the 'eiective recording portion, said panel forming; one of the walls ofthe magazine compartrnent, and a sealing piece interposedbetween the cover and each of'the respectivepulleys so that the tape comes intoY contact therewith as it passes about the pulleys, said drum. and. tape edge forming the respective sidesof said slit so that the. paper completes. a. sealffor said magazine compartmentf M'rnron ALBEN.l

- References Cited; in Vthey 'le. of.A this patent Number, 

